PUTNAM — Quiet Corner Reads announced that A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline will be the One Book choice for 2017.  Kline is the author of the very well-known book, The Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World promises to be another bestseller.  In her new novel Kline turns her attention to another little-known part of America’s history: the story of Christina Olson, the complex woman and real-life muse Andrew Wyeth portrayed in his 1948 masterpiece Christina’s World. Told in evocative and lucid prose, A Piece of the World is a story about the burdens and blessings of family history, and how artist and muse can come together to forge a new and timeless legacy. 

The book was published Feb. 21.  In the spirit of the topic the public is invited to a 6:30 p.m gallery reception with a Wyeth lecture following at QVCC March 28. Light refreshments will be served at the reception, and copies of A Piece of the World will be available for sale. Book discussions and related programs will be offered at member libraries April through June.  

QCReads will host Ms. Kline at their finale event at 7 p.m. June 13 at the Pomfret School. Books will be available for sale, and the author will be autographing copies for attendees.  Limited tickets will be sold at member libraries for $15, which includes light refreshments.  The author visit is sponsored by The Beagary Trust, The Leo J. and Rose Pageau Trust, Pomfret School and area Friends of the Libraries. For more information, visit QCReads on Facebook and at the quietcornerreads.org website.

“One Book” community reading projects, which connect people to literature through reading and discussion, have exploded in popularity in recent years. Quiet Corner Reads began their yearly One Book project in 2010, and the collaboration of libraries throughout northeastern CT is still working together to encourage literacy, library support, and community development. Members include libraries in the towns of Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Eastford, Hampton, Killingly, Mansfield, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Thompson, Union and Woodstock.  This year the addition of Quinebaug Valley Community College and the Pomfret School brings the number of individual libraries in the group to 20.  The One Book project each year encourages residents of northeast Connecticut to read the same book or author at the same time, bringing people together to discuss ideas and to broaden their appreciation of reading. Past books include In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, Bill Warrington’s Last Chance by James King, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Tag Man by Archer Mayor, The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood, What Strange Creatures by Emily Arsenault, and The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant.